Reed gauge for musical instruments



March 23, 1954 J. TOPOR REED GAUGE FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed Aug. 14, 1951 INVENTOR JACOB TOPOR 2 ATTORNZY Patented Mar. 23, 1954 UNITED STATES, PATENT OFFICE 2,672,782 REED GAUGE FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Jacob Topor, Wheeling, W. Va. Application August 14, 1951, Serial No. 241,760

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to a reed gauge setter for use with saxophones, clarinets and the like.

At the present time musicians experience a great deal of difliculty in positioning a reed in the exact position on a mouthpiece of wind instruments. It is very important to a musician that the reed be in proper position, otherwise the fine tones of the instrument will not be achieved.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device that will positively position a reed on a mouthpiece in the desired position for maximum efiiciency.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of means on the device for centering a reed on a mouthpiece.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of means for locking the reed in position.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of means in the device for seating one end of a reed.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of means for locking the device to a. mouthpiece.

Other and further objects of the present invention will appear from the following description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a conventional mouthpiece equipped with a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view illustrating the adjustable lugs, a portion being broken away to show the groove that receives one end of a reed.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of the modified form of the invention shown in Figure 4, and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of the modified form of the invention and showing the reed engaging means. I

Referring to the drawing in detail which illustrates the preferred embodiment of the present invention and in which like numerals indicate similar parts throughout the various views.

The numeral I0 represents a conventional mouthpiece of a saxophone, clarinet or the like, having a conventional clamp I I for holding a reed I2 on the fiat face I3 of the mouthpiece.

Encompassing the body of the mouthpiece I0 is a band I4 of suitable material, having a ridge I 5, and smaller ridges I6, the inner ends of which are in spaced relation to each other forming an opening H. The bottom faces I8 of the smaller ridges I6 are in spaced relation to the top face of ridge I5 forming slots I9. The top face of ridge I5 is provided with a recess 20 for receiving one end 2I of reed I2.

There is provided lugs 22 each having legs 23 and 24, the legs 24 engaging the slots I9 and being provided with a slotted portion 25 that permits transverse adjustment of the lugs. The inner face of the legs 23 are adapted to engage the side edges of the reed I2 to impinge the reed in its exact position on the mouthpiece. The lugs 22 are held for slidable engagement in the slots I9 by screws 26 that engage apertures in the ridge I5 and a threaded bore in the ridges I6 to secure the lugs in a fixed position.

The band I 4 is secured on the mouthpiece I 0 by a screw 21 that engages the lugs 28 that are an integral part of the band.

In the modified form of the invention as shown in Figures 4 to '7 there is provided a band 30 for positioning on a mouthpiece a reed 3| having semi-circular portions 32 and 33 and a groove in the heel end.

The band 30 is provided with a ridge 35 having a reduced extension 36 that projects beyond one peripheral edge, one edge of the reduced extension being of arcuate configuration. The edge 31 of band 30 serves as a seat or abutment for the heel of the reed SL The band 30 is secured on a mouthpiece III by screws 3'8 that engage lugs 39.

In use of the device shown in Figure 1, the band I4 is placed upon the mouthpiece II], with the opening I! in alignment with the heel end of the flat surface I3, the screw 21 then tightened. The ligature I I being loose on the mouthpiece, permits the reed I 2 to be pushed into the opening I1 until the end 2| is seated in the recess or groove 20. The lugs 22 are then adjusted, the legs 23 being in engagement with the side edges of the reed I2. The legs 24 being slidable in the grooves I 9, the reed may be moved to the left or right until it is in the desired position, and at this point the screws 26 are tightened and secure the lugs in fixed position. The screws on the ligature clamp I I are then tightened which secures the ligature in place as well as holding in the reed in place. From the above it can be seen that the reed will be properly ositioned and held on the mouthpiece for maximum performance and it cannot be casually moved out of fixed position.

In use of the modified form of the invention shown in Figure 4, the band 30 is placed upon the mouthpiece In, the extension or projection 35 being midway the side edges of the flat face IS, the screw 38 is then tightened which looks the band on the mouthpiece. The reed 3| is then positioned on the flat surface of the mouthpiece and pushed under the ligature and toward the band until the groove or slot 34 engages the projection 01. extensimiifi holdingj the reed in position, at this point the ligature screws are tightened which locks the ligature on the mouthpiece as well as the reed.

I wish to have it understoodthat changesmay be made and details of construction varied without departing from the principles of this inverttion, and I therefore do not wish toelimitmyeelf to the exact showing, and that changes may be made without departing from the spirit. of the invention or the claims hereto appended.

I claim:

1 A reed setter for the conventional mouthw piece of musical: instruments comprising ad;- juetahle; band arecesstherein adjustable l.-,-shaped= lugs-on. either sidez'of said recess each 4 of said lugs being angularly adjustable to accurately position the heel end of said reed in said recess.

2. A reed positioning device for the mouthpiece of musical instruments, said device comprising an adjustable band having a recess therein for carrying means to engage the heel end of a reed held by a conventional ligature, said means comprising individually adjustable L-shaped members.

' JACOB TOPOR.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITW STATES PATENTS Name Date 1,085,684 Hershey Feb. 3, 1914 2 298558; Tafirella Aug. 11, 1942 2,496,749 Reddick Feb. '7, 1950 2,4991855 Gamble 1 Mar. 7, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Date 609,043 France May 3, 19M! $18,825 Italy -1 June 21; 1934 

